Managing Priorities
I had a good day yesterday and made progress on three fronts. In other, words I juggled my priorities quite well and managed my work schedule "relatively" efficiently.
Working productively has always been a challenge. I think a lot of it is due to my AS tendency to only concentrate on one task for a very short while.
Yesterday I needed to: a) keep at my current work tasks under control; b) start my new job search (due to the uncertainty which surrounds my current position)and; c) do some more work on Asperger Management.
I think that I managed all three!
Today I need to do likewise. Like yesterday, I am going to work on AS forums in the morning prior to my starting my day job. I have two calls pencilled in to speak to outside speakers regarding Asperger Management and I am going to continue my job serach during the lunch break.
Its about planning ahead, identifying required tasks, allocating specific times to certain issues and not letting myself get diverted. Its also about ensuring that I work steadily - and therefore productively - throughout the day to ensure my output is good.
I'll crack on!
Managing Priorities and Duties
Even though this posting might be from June I'm glad to hear that you managed these three tasks very well and in a good reasonable amount of time during that time period.
I do use the advice you stated in your posting. Try my best to do one thing at a time. For me it's easier said than done because I tend to have a habit of liking everything done at once and more or less at the same time.
This tends to happen at work. Sometimes I work too fast and get too stressful and burnt out. Also when I work fast there at times I miss important things that I should of noticed. Sometimes it's good that I work fast because I get the job done faster. People at work like me because I work fast but sometimes they get a little upset when I work too fast because I tend to get stressed,flustered and end up missing certain things. Another problem I tend to have is when many problems and changes come at me at once!
Getting information in writing
Hi, I too have issues in setting priorities at times and getting flustered at work. We are rather understaffed and have more work than we can comfortably handle at present but management would rather not employ more staff as we are having a major work overhaul that is expected to reduce our workload.
Sometimes, it's a matter of just wading through and soldiering on, knowing that we won't really get on top of all the work but at least realising we aren't getting any further behind either.
I find writing lists is very helpful. Another thing is getting notice of changes in writing rather than simply verbally. If in writing, you can read it over a few times to get the meaning, and hopefully ask questions if you are still unclear. Verbal instructions I find are too subject to misinterpretion, even change.
In Writing
I think the "in writing" suggestion is spot on!
I got berate dat work a month or two ago by an opinionated colleague complaining that he was getting fed up with having to say things twice to me.
He was making requests verbally which I was saying that I would do when,in effect, I wasn't assimilated the information totally.
Getting requests in writing such as an e-mail provides a reference point. Its a bit like taking notes in meetings: very useful!
I'm going to ask for it all the time from here on in.
In Writing
Written requests or instructions are also good in another way. Just in case that person who gave you the instructions forgot, you can just show them what they wrote. Plus in my field of work most things need to be put into writing so we can keep it in the records just in case a higher up or a outside auditor questions why something is done.
As they say the pen is mighter than the sword!
It's normal for us to need
It's normal for us to need telling two or three times how to do something so your opinionated colleague ought to pull his head in!
The great thing about instructions in writing is you can underline anything you are not sure about and point it out.
Self Responsibility
What you say is true, however.............
Other people don't need to be told something two or three times so, being asked for something that often, is both annoying and antagonistic.
I do believe that it is our responsibility to reach out to people. This is especially so if we refuse to divulge our condition: If people don't know they cannot be expected to understand!
Saying that you want something it writing is a perfectly legitimate tactic and one which does shield the possible downsides of having Asperger in the workplace.
Unfortunatly, more often
Unfortunatly, more often than not, accomidations aren't given to us. I had a boss that was tired of telling me things more than once and I got written up on it. I think that it is important to remember that we live in their world, and we must change to achieve their standards. Helpful to me is to write down the instructions as they are being given, ask questions immediatly afterwards to clear things up, and then start your project. This will eliminate to a certain degree, the appearance that you have not listened to or retained the information that was given initially.
Clarification
Asking questions immediately is a very good point.
I have been guilty in the past of not asking for clarification. It stems from my "top line" thinking inherent within my Asperger: starting to listen, thinking that I have got the message and understood when, in fact, I have switched off prematurely.
There is nothing wrong in asking for clarification or further explanation and don't feel guilty or embarrassed asking for it.
Repeating the request or statement back to the other person confirms - and formalises - things.
Yes, these days I usually
Yes, these days I usually say "so, is this what you mean? and repeat back to them what they said. That, plus saying "just let me write it down so I won't forget", is something I often find helpful in avoiding misunderstandings.
Asking Questions
For me it is better to look dumb immediatly for asking a question on something my NT boss has no trouble understanding, than finding out I have been doing it wrong all along. My goal at work is for me to do things correctly the first time around. I take pride in my ability to learn things quickly with little follow-up, and this is how I make sure I live up to my name so to speak.